Times wires
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sprint Cup
What: Sylvania 300
When/where: Today, practice (ESPN2, 11:30 a.m.), qualifying (ESPN2, 3 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (ESPN, 2 p.m.); Loudon, N.H.
Fast facts: In July at the track, Ryan Newman raced to his lone victory of the year so far, holding off boss and teammate Tony Stewart. … Stewart opened the 10-race Chase for the Championship last week with his first victory of the season and 40th overall, conserving fuel and holding off Kevin Harvick in the rain-delayed Chicagoland race.
Standings: 1. Harvick, 2,054; 2. Stewart, 2,047; 3. Carl Edwards, 2,044; 4. Kurt Busch, 2,043; 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2,041; 6. Brad Keselowski and Newman, 2,040; 8. Jimmie Johnson, 2,038; 9 Kyle Busch, 2,035; 10. Matt Kenseth, 2,030; 11. Jeff Gordon, 2,029; 12. Denny Hamlin, 2,013
Trucks
What: F.W. Webb 175
When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, qualifying, race, (Speed, 3 p.m.); Loudon, N.H.
Fast facts: Kyle Busch leads the series with five victories in 13 starts. … German Quiroga, the two-time defending NASCAR Mexico series champion, makes his trucks debut in Kyle Busch Motorsports' No. 51 Toyota.
Standings: 1. James Buescher, 621; 2. Austin Dillon, 618; 3. Johnny Sauter, 615; 4. Timothy Peters, 601; 5. Ron Hornaday, 574.
Formula One
What: Singapore Grand Prix
When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 9:30 a.m.); Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 10 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 8 a.m.); Singapore
Fast facts: Sebastian Vettel said Thursday he's not feeling pressure to clinch the title at Singapore and he will attack the race with his normal aggressive style. Vettel is almost guaranteed of successfully defending his title, and if he takes 13 more points than Fernando Alonso in Singapore, he will win the championship with five races to go. … The race is the series' lone night event.
Standings: 1. Vettel, 284; 2. Alonso, 172; 3. Jenson Button and Mark Webber, 167; 5. Lewis Hamilton, 158
NHRA
What: Texas Fall Nationals
When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 1:15 a.m. Sunday); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Ennis, Texas
Fast facts: The event is the second in the six-race Countdown. The top 10 drivers in each class qualified for the playoffs.
Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 2,187; 2. Spencer Massey, 2,171. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 2,209; 2. Matt Hagan, 2,187. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 2,186; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,155. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,237; 2. Karen Stoffer, 2,174
Nationwide
Next: OneMain Financial 200, Oct. 1, Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.
Standings: 1. Ricky Stenhouse, 986; 2. Elliott Sadler, 972; 3. Reed Sorenson, 939; 4. Aric Almirola, 922; 5. Justin Allgaier, 905
IndyCar
Next: Kentucky Indy 300, Oct. 2, Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.
Standings: 1. Will Power, 542; 2. Dario Franchitti, 531; 3. Scott Dixon, 483; 4. Oriol Servia, 397; 5. Tony Kanaan, 353